AWS Direct Connect Features

When to use AWS Direct Connect

There are several use cases for which AWS Direct Connect is desirable, including:

Working with Large Data Sets: Transferring large data sets over the Internet can be time consuming and expensive. If you are like most businesses, you have procured just enough bandwidth to meet your web and email needs, and share that Internet connection across the entire enterprise. When you use the cloud, you can find that transferring large data sets can be slow because your business critical network traffic is contending for bandwidth with your other Internet usage. To decrease the amount of time required to transfer your data, you could increase the bandwidth to your Internet service provider, which frequently requires a costly contract renewal and a minimum commitment. With AWS Direct Connect, you can transfer your business critical data directly from your datacenter, office, or colocation environment into and from AWS bypassing your Internet service provider and removing network congestion. Further, AWS Direct Connect’s simple pay as-you-go pricing, and no minimum commitment means you pay only for the network ports you use and the data you transfer over the connection, which can greatly reduce your networking costs.

Real-time Data Feeds: Applications that use real-time data feeds can also benefit from using AWS Direct Connect. For example, applications such as voice and video perform best when network latency remains constant. Network latency over the Internet can vary given that the Internet is constantly changing how data gets from point A to B. With AWS Direct Connect, you control how your data is routed, which can provide a more consistent network experience over Internet-based connections.

Hybrid Environments: Hybrid environments allow you to combine the elasticity and economic benefits of AWS with the ability to utilize other infrastructure that you already own.

AWS Direct Connect Locations

The table below shows connectivity options to different AWS Regions.

AWS Direct Connect Location

AWS Region

Sinnet Jiuxianqiao IDC, Beijing

China (Beijing)

CIDS Jiachuang IDC, Beijing

China (Beijing)

Industrial Park IDC, Ningxia

China (Ningxia)

Shapotou IDC, Ningxia

China (Ningxia)

GDS No. 3 Data Center, Shanghai*

China (Beijing)

GDS No. 3 Data Center, Shenzhen*

China (Beijing)

*Note: The Direct Connect locations in Shanghai and Shenzhen are operated by NWCD.

AWS Direct Connect Partners*

If you don’t have preexisting infrastructure at one of our AWS Direct Connect locations, don’t worry. AWS has a growing list of AWS Direct Connect Partners who can assist you in using the AWS Direct Connect service. These AWS Direct Connect Partners can help you establish network circuits between an AWS Direct Connect location and your datacenter, office, or colocation environment, or assist you in constructing a hybrid environment.

*Note: All use of the term "partner" herein refers exclusively to a member of the AWS Partner Network (APN).